Academic Leadership Development Institute
The Academic Leadership Development Institute, coordinated by the Council, provides a series of highly-interactive sessions and small group seminars led by faculty and administrators from across Kentucky and other states. The goal is to create a learning community of early career faculty and staff from various backgrounds who are on track for professional advancement.
This year’s cohort consists of professionals from Kentucky's universities and the Kentucky Community and Technical College System. Institutional leaders nominated candidates for the yearlong initiative based on their leadership ability, interest in advancement, and dedication to higher education. Participants cannot have previous administrative experience.
Current Membership
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Elnoel Akwa
University of Kentucky
IS Technical Support Specialist III
Elnoel Akwa is an IS technical support specialist in the Office for Faculty Advancement at the University of Kentucky where he primarily manages course evaluations across the university. He earned an associate degree from Bluegrass Community and Technical College and a bachelor's degree in computer engineering from the University of Kentucky. During his undergraduate studies, Akwa was an active student leader in several organizations, notably serving in the Student Government Association and as a student representative on the KCTCS Board of Regents. In addition to pursuing graduate studies, he is passionate about emerging technology, cloud computing and community service, and volunteering at his local church and with local nonprofit organizations whenever time permits.
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Mishonda Bush
Bluegrass Community and Technical College
Human Resources Manager
Mishonda Bush is the human resources manager for Bluegrass Community and Technical College. She is a proud first-generation graduate of Bluegrass Community and Technical College where she graduated with high distinction and was a legislative intern. Bush also obtained an Expanded Functions Dental Auxiliary Certification and Cosmetology Diploma. Her dedication to academic success laid the foundation for her future endeavors in educational leadership. Bush has worked in the Human Resources field for the past 10 years. In her current role in higher education, she is committed to advancing educational opportunities for everyone that she crosses paths with.
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Natalee Brown
Maysville Community and Technical College
Director of Recruitment
Natalee Brown is the director of recruitment for Maysville Community and Technical College where she oversees college recruitment efforts, digital marketing and various enrollment initiatives. She is passionate about higher education enrollment management and is eager to expand her expertise and professional network. Brown ompleted the KCTCS Lead Academy and currently holds the position of staff representative on the MCTC board of directors. Bush earned her bachelor's degree from Murray State University and is in the process of completing a master’s degree in adult and higher education at Morehead State University.
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Rebecca Cochran
Ashland Community and Technical College
Instructor
Rebecca “Becky” Cochran, is an Instructor in the applied process technology program at Ashland Community and Technical College. Within her first-year at ACTC, Cochran achieved multiple awards, such as “First Among First” and “First among Peers.” Cochran constantly seeks new ways to improve the program and keeps the mindset of always looking for ways to improve not just herself but her teaching style and techniques. She is a 2012 alumna from Ashland Community and Technical College, having received her AAS in applied process technology.
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Courtney Coomes
Bluegrass Community and Technical College
Budget Manager
Courtney Coomes is the budget manager for Bluegrass Community and Technical College. As a first-generation college student, Coomes is cognizant of the impact that community colleges have and is proud to work in an environment that fosters a better future for Kentucky. She is currently taking courses at BCTC to further her education in Business and Accounting. Prior to joining the budget department, she has held roles as division office manager for allied health and natural sciences and human resources coordinator. A life-long resident of Lexington, Coomes attended the University of Kentucky, completing two baccalaureate degrees in psychology and communication.
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DuWayne Dale
Morehead State University
Professor of Music
DuWayne Dale serves on the music faculty of Morehead State University as the director of bands and an associate professor of music. He joined the faculty in 2017 after eighteen years of teaching successful high school music programs in southwest Ohio and throughout Kentucky. Programs under his leadership have had a consistent reputation for performance excellence in both the concert setting and in the marching arts. He was named the 2012 KMEA second district High School Music Educator of the Year, the 2018 and 2020 KMEA eighth district College/University Educator of the Year and has twice been honored with a Citation of Excellence from the National Band Association. Dale holds a BME and MM from Morehead State University, completed post-graduate teacher certification focusing on music education and wind conducting at the University of Kentucky, holds a Master of Business Administration from Western Governors University, and completed his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in music education at Boston University.
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Travis Haskins
Kentucky State University
Interim Director of Student Support Services
Travis Haskins is the interim director of student support services at Kentucky State University and has been a dedicated employee for over 20 years. He attended Kentucky State University, where he majored in social work and went on to earn a master’s degree in public administration. While at Kentucky State, Travis was an engaged student leader, participating in organizations such as Phi Beta Sigma fraternity, Inc., Black Achievers, Prince Hall Masonic Lodge Meridian Sun #26, and the Boy Scouts of America, among other civic initiatives.
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Martina Jackson, MPA
Eastern Kentucky University
Interim Director of CIEGE
Martina “MJ” Jackson is the interim director of CIEGE at Eastern Kentucky University. She is a first-generation college graduate and in May of 2026, will be the first in her family to obtain a doctoral degree. Her accomplishments include being the first Black Latina to run for the 91st District in 2022 KY State House, and to receive a major party nomination. She has spent her professional career in sectors such as higher education, college access, military scholarship foundation, foster care agencies and civil-rights-based organizations. Jackson is a proud Berea College alumnae, obtained her Master of Public Administration degree from Eastern Kentucky University, and is currently pursuing a doctorate in educational leadership, and policy studies.
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Myah Leonard
Madisonville Community College
Financial Aid Advisor
Myah Leonard is a financial aid advisor at Madisonville Community College, which she also attended as a student and gained valuable experience through the work-study program, leading to a role as a loan counselor at the college. She is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in psychology at the University of Louisville.
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Dr. Vivek Madupu
Morehead State University
Assistant Professor of Marketing
Dr. Vivek Madupu serves as an assistant professor of marketing at the Elmer R. Smith College of Business and Technology at Morehead State University. With a strong academic background, he earned his doctorate in marketing from the University of Memphis. His research interests are centered on critical areas of the field, including consumer behavior, marketing communication, and pedagogy. Madupu is passionate about teaching and is dedicated to fostering an enriching learning environment for his students.
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Haley Minton
Owensboro Community and Technical College
Program Coordinator for Business Administration Program
Haley Minton is a full-time faculty member and program coordinator for the business administration program at Owensboro Community and Technical College. She received her bachelor's in business administration in 2015 from Western Kentucky University and received her Master of Business Administration in 2019. Her previous roles include serving as a business affairs assistant at Owensboro Community and Technical College, as well as a business operations specialist.
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Dr. Diane Nititham
Murray State University
Full Professor
Diane Nititham is a full professor in the department of sociology at Murray State University. Her work focuses on the dynamics of diaspora, transnational social communities, and notions of home and belonging. She is interested in how these dynamics manifest for people amongst asymmetrical power relations, social policies and community coalition building. Originally from the Chicago area, she is inspired by her family’s migration story, her experiences of cultural exchange living in the US and abroad, and her desire to make visible minoritized experiences and create enduring spaces for equity. Nititham received her Bachelor of Arts in communication and Master of Arts with distinction in social and cultural foundations in education from DePaul University, and doctorate in sociology from University College Dublin, Ireland.
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Whitney Sweeney-Martin
University of Louisville
Director of Faculty Success and Wellbeing
Whitney Sweeney-Martin is a director of faculty success and wellbeing at the University of Louisville. A passionate advocate for education, wellness and empowerment, her research interests focus on women, leadership and wellness. She blends her expertise in guidance and self-discovery with a deep commitment to fostering balance, growth and alignment. In her current position, Sweeney-Martin inspires faculty to prioritize their wellness, seek growth opportunities, and align themselves with experiences that empower them to live authentically.
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Jeff Varrone
Northern Kentucky University
Assistant Director for Center of Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Jeff Varrone is the assistant director for the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE), and serves as a faculty member in entrepreneurship, within the Haile College of Business at Northern Kentucky University. He joined the program while completing his graduate degree with a focus on entrepreneurship at NKU. Additionally, Varrone is also a faculty-in-residence at Callahan Hall (a residential building on NKU’s campus). He is proud to have won several awards, including the NKU Indelible Spirit Award, the NKU Outstanding Coach/Advisor of the Year, the Haile Impact Award for Outstanding Teaching, as well as several Presidential Ambassador awards. Additionally, Varrone works with students across campus on various events and academic programs to prepare them for business opportunities and to help create awareness of entrepreneurship on campus and in the community.
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Harley Wenz
Maysville Community and Technical College
Nursing Instructor
Harley Wenz is a nursing instructor at Maysville Community and Technical College. In her role as a didactic instructor in the associate-level nursing program at MCTC, Wenz draws upon her diverse expertise in critical care, case management and behavioral health. She is passionate about fostering an inclusive and supportive learning environment where students and colleagues alike feel empowered to engage, learn and grow without fear of judgment. Wenz holds a Bachelor of Science in nursing from Northern Kentucky University (NKU) and is presently pursuing a Master of Science in nursing education at NKU. Additionally, she is a certified hospice and palliative nurse, bringing a wealth of knowledge and compassion to her practice.
Past Membership
2024
- Emily Abrams, Southeast Community and Technical College
- Sherita Clark, Southcentral Community and Technical College
- Charlisa Daniels, Northern Kentucky University
- Fatima Espinoza Vasquez, University of Kentucky
- Tatyana Gause, Bluegrass Community and Technical College
- Miguel Gomez, Murray State University
- Felicia Jamison, University of Louisville
- Michelle Johnson, University of Louisville
- Dr. Jeffrey Kim, University of Louisville
- Lakesha Myers, Gateway Community and Technical College
- Aleeta Powe, University of Louisville
- Dr. Kendriana Price, University of Kentucky
- LaTasha Shemwell, Owensboro Community and Technical College
- Marissa Smith, Bluegrass Community and Technical College
- Dr. Ashley Sweat, Eastern Kentucky University
- Aaron White, Hopkinsville Community and Technical College
- Fe'Lisa Wilson, Kentucky State University
2023
- Alexandria Carrington, Hopkinsville Community College
- Sebrena Chapman-Fitzsimmons, Jefferson Community and Technical College
- Trisha Clement-Montgomery, University of Kentucky
- Jarrod E. Druery, Northern Kentucky University
- Patricia Torres Fouse, Madisonville Community College
- Patrick Gonzalez, Morehead State University
- Erica Holloway-McDaniel, University of Louisville
- Veronica Johnson, University of Louisville
- Kyndra Knight, Jefferson Community and Technical College
- Dekuwmini (Dee) Mornah, Northern Kentucky University
- Monica Mundy, Eastern Kentucky University
- Ramon Muniz Sarmiento, Owensboro Technical and Community College
- Gera Nelson, Morehead State University
- Anita Nelums, Bluegrass Community and Technical College
- Sierra O'Cull, Maysville Community and Technical College
- De’Sarae Perry, Maysville Community and Technical College
- Allyson Sanders, Owensboro Community and Technical College
- Chris Stout, Gateway Community and Technical College
- Neisha Wiley, Northern Kentucky University
- Elaine Wilson, Somerset Community College
- Erica Yahya, Jefferson Community and Technical College
2022
- TaKeia N. Anthony, Kentucky State University
- Lester "Les" Archer, Western Kentucky University
- Marlisa Austin, Jefferson Community and Technical College
- Prathiba Natesan Batley, University of Louisville
- Daniel Boahmah, Western Kentucky University
- Dedrick Brooks, Murray State University
- Eric Brown, Morehead State University
- Erica Clayton, Gateway Community and Technical College
- Anastasia Curwood, University of Kentucky
- Alejandra "Ali" Frailey, Madisonville Community College
- Brandon Halcomb, Jefferson Community and Technical College
- Denise Hardesty, Western Kentucky University
- Kevin Harrison, Ashland Community and Technical College
- Vanessa Hunn, Northern Kentucky University
- Joda Johnson, Southcentral Community and Technical College
- Quentin Moore, Eastern Kentucky University
- Ebony Muldrow, University of Louisville
- Keturah Nix, Kentucky State University
- Antoine Smith-Rouse, Owensboro Community and Technical College
- Danelle Stevens-Watkins, University of Kentucky
- Lorraine Sturgeon – Kentucky Community and Technical College System, System Office
- Crystal Summers, Northern Kentucky University
- Kauai Thurman, Bluegrass Community and Technical College
- Jose Saavedra Torres, Northern Kentucky University
2021
- Gail Barbour, Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College
- Brigitte Burpo, University of Louisville
- Ethan Coats , Bluegrass Community and Technical College
- Orlando Currie, Ashland Community and Technical College
- Oluwabunmi Dada, Murray State University
- Aquesha Daniels, J.D., Western Kentucky University
- Courtney Duvall, Owensboro Community and Technical College
- Roosevelt Escalante, Morehead State University
- Natalie Gibson, Kentucky Community and Technical College System
- Erin Gilliam, Kentucky State University
- José Juan Gómez-Becerra, Eastern Kentucky University
- Brittney Hernandez-Stevenson, Madisonville Community College
- Chardae Kelly, Henderson Community College
- Jerisia Lamons, Elizabethtown Community and Technical College
- Eduardo Nazario, Somerset Community College
- Deri Ross Pryor, Maysville Community and Technical College
- Chris Russey, Gateway Community and Technical College
- Andrew Smith, University of Kentucky
- Tina Terry, Big Sandy Community and Technical College
2020
- Steve Bien-Aime, Northern Kentucky University
- Jeremy Calico, Hopkinsville Community College
- Natalie Cooper, Madisonville Community College
- Y. Kae Cooper, Elizabethtown Community and Technical College
- Indigo Cornelison, Jefferson Community and Technical College
- Ramon Cuellar, Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College
- Sharmy Davis, Owensboro Community and Technical College
- Charidy Dobbins, West Kentucky Community and Technical College
- Bella Ezumah, Murray State University
- Michelle Jones, Western Kentucky University
- Lavonia Lewis, Hazard Community and Technical College
- Donia Massey, Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College
- Adarrell Owsley, Gateway Community and Technical College
- Rafael Perez-Figueroa, University of Kentucky
- Jamie Phipps, Morehead State University
- Emma Sterrett-Hong, University of Louisville
- Ty Sturdivant, Bluegrass Community and Technical College
2018
- LaVetta Reliford, Bluegrass Community and Technical College
- Socorro Zaragoza, Eastern Kentucky University
- Michelle Chappell, Henderson Community and Technical College
- Leonard Thomas, Jefferson Community and Technical College
- Donavan Ramon, Kentucky State University
- Aseem Talukdar, Madisonville Community College
- Tamera Izlar, Morehead State University
- Mi-Hwa Park, Murray State University
- Francoise Knox-Kazimierczuk, Northern Kentucky University
- Amanda Waterstrat, Somerset Community College
- Victoria Cloud, Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College
- Julie Plasencia, University of Kentucky
- Jacqueline Couti, University of Kentucky
- Gabriel Dadi, University of Kentucky
- Delaina Amos, University of Louisville
- Dewey Clayton, University of Louisville
- Baron Kelly, University of Louisville
- Sheri Wallace, University of Louisville
- Kimberly Green, Western Kentucky University
Last Updated: 2/17/2025